Tag Archives: spanish wine

Wine of the Day: R. Lopez de Heredia ‘Vina Gravonia’ Crianza Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2006 – 8-29-16

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Gravonia‘ Crianza Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($31.95) Buy Now: $28 special

The wide range of flavors on offer from the ‘Gravonia‘ conjure up thoughts of an open-air market, where fruit and vegetables elbow up against exotic spices and a million different scents waft through the hustling masses. Delicate impressions of tea, sun-soaked lemons, caramel, and peach play off of hints of hay, spring-time flowers, petrol, and almonds; the descriptors of this wine are rivaled only by the vast amount of dishes it’d match.

‘Gravonia‘ comes from 100% Viura; you may otherwise know the grape as Macabeo. The wine is aged for four years in mature oak barrels and racked twice yearly, later resting in the bottle before release.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva 2007 6-21-16

Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2007 750ML ($379.95) Buy Now: $249 special

Unico2007If Spain had an aristocracy of wines, Vega Sicilia would be king. (Pingus you could call a usurper to that throne.) Founded in 1864, over a century before creation of the Ribera del Duero DOC, the estate’s various owners have made singular wine ever since. In fact, Vega Sicilia can hardly be compared to other Spanish wines, not even the greats of La Rioja. For one thing, the grape varieties originally planted and still grown in Vega Sicilia’s 500-acre limestone-soil vineyard include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, though eighty percent of the vines are Tempranillo. As a result, Vega Sicilia doesn’t taste like other Tempranillo-based wines from Spain.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2014 6-21-16

Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero 2014 750ML ($17.95) Buy Now: $11.90 special

emilmoroSometimes summer isn’t hot enough – or it’s too hot – and I need a burst of wine from a place known for summer heat (and winter freeze). In such cases, I head for a Ribera del Duero. The 2014 Emilio Moro Finca Resalso fits the bill, for just over ten bucks. Made entirely from young Tempranillo vines planted in Emilio Moro’s original vineyard, this wine warms the palate while refreshing the spirit. Four months in American and French oak lends backbone and sweet smokiness to this fruit-forward tinto. The tannins are smooth and round, as is the finish. Try it with paella, grilled veggies, or anything barbecued.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 6-20-16

Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 750ML ($24.95) Buy Now: $21.90 special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2011 750ML ($299.95) Buy Now: $236 special

muga2011Imagine you are sitting in the hot Spanish sierra, eating handfuls of cherries with ripe, tart and sweet frutas del bosque (berries) from a satchel that smells of spicy leather, with hints of fresh-rolled tobacco on your fingertips. A breeze carries floral notes under your nose, and suddenly you realize that you’re not in the hills at all, or even in Spain. You’re sniffing a glass of 2011 Muga Reserva, and when you take a sip its fruit-forward character unfolds alongside rounded tannins, warming the mouth and begging for a bite of cochinillo (suckling pig, a Riojan specialty) and for another sip of this classic-yet-modern Rioja red.… Read the rest

Wine of the Day: Txakoli from Ameztoi 6-2-16

Txakoli, Txakoli, Txakoli!

Txakoli (cha-kol-E) comes straight off the Atlantic coast like a refreshing rain shower in summer. Produced exclusively in Spain’s Basque Country, Txakoli matches the Basque flair for seafood and pintxos (tapas), thanks to its palette of citrus fruits, its minerality, and its crisp acidity. Vineyards of Hondarribi Zuri (white) and and Hondarribi Beltza (red) sprawl across the rugged, verdant Basque coastal hills, particularly around Getaria: This little fishing village is also home to Elcano, who finished Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. It’s no coincidence that Txakoli offers hints of a fresh ocean breeze.

Every bar and restaurant in every Spanish Basque town serves Txakoli. They carefully pour it from several feet above a straight-walled, stemless glass, to enliven the wine with some effervescence, like the sea after a wave rolls through.… Read the rest